Bennettsville Police Department

09/23/2026

09/18/2026

🚔 CONGRATULATIONS, OFFICER K. MADISON!

The Bennettsville Police Department proudly congratulates Officer K. Madison on successfully graduating from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA)! Officer Madison has completed rigorous law enforcement training designed to prepare him for the responsibilities and challenges of serving as a law enforcement officer. His training included the study of South Carolina law, constitutional law, criminal procedures, enforcement practices, officer safety, ethics, and the enforcement of state laws and municipal ordinances.

Graduation from the Academy is a significant accomplishment, but it is only the beginning of a career dedicated to service, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and protecting the citizens we serve. On behalf of the entire Bennettsville Police Department, we welcome Officer K. Madison aboard! We look forward to watching him continue to develop his skills, gain experience, and become an outstanding member of our department.

Officer Madison, congratulations on this accomplishment, and welcome to the BPD family!
Now it is time to put your training into action and serve the citizens of Bennettsville with pride, dedication, commitment, and integrity.

🚔 Welcome Aboard, Officer Madison!
Bennettsville Police Department

09/18/2026

FROM CHIEF SAMMY CROSLAND

Bennettsville Police Department

PUBLIC SCAM AWARENESS & FRAUD PREVENTION MESSAGE

I want to take a moment to speak directly to the people of Bennettsville and the surrounding community about an issue that deserves everyone's attention: scams and fraudulent attempts to steal your money, personal information, or identity. The Bennettsville Police Department has been made aware of an individual or individuals using my name and falsely representing himself as me in an attempt to convince citizens to send money. While this particular situation involves someone impersonating me, I want to use this opportunity to remind everyone that scams can take many different forms.

Please understand this very clearly: I will never personally contact you and demand money from you, and neither I nor any member of the Bennettsville Police Department will ever demand payment in exchange for dropping criminal charges, avoiding arrest, resolving a warrant, clearing a case, or handling any other criminal matter.

No legitimate member of this department will instruct you to:

- Send money to avoid being arrested.
- Pay money to have criminal charges dismissed.
- Purchase gift cards and provide the numbers or photographs of those cards.
- Send cryptocurrency or wire money to resolve a criminal matter.
- Transfer money through Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or another payment service because someone claims you have a warrant.
- Provide banking information, passwords, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive personal information over an unsolicited call or message.
- Meet an unknown person to exchange cash or other valuables.
- Keep a supposed criminal investigation secret from your family, bank, or law enforcement.
- Pay an individual claiming to be a police officer, detective, attorney, government official, or other authority in order to make a legal problem disappear.

If someone contacts you claiming to be me, one of our officers, a detective, a government official, a family member, a business representative, or anyone else and asks you for money or personal information, STOP and verify the request before doing anything. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. They may use legitimate names, photographs, badge numbers, agency names, telephone numbers, social media accounts, official-looking documents, or information they have obtained from the internet to make their stories appear believable.

Some scammers will even create a sense of fear and urgency by telling you that you or a loved one is in immediate trouble, that you have an active warrant, that your bank account is about to be closed, that you owe money, or that you must act immediately to avoid arrest, financial loss, or some other consequence.

Do not allow fear, pressure, intimidation, or urgency to make the decision for you.

Stop. Take a moment. Ask questions. Verify the information through an official source. If you receive a suspicious call or message, do not call the telephone number provided by the person contacting you. Instead, independently obtain the legitimate telephone number for the agency, business, financial institution, or organization involved and contact them directly.

For the Bennettsville Police Department, you can contact us at:

Bennettsville Police Department Office:
843-479-3620

Non-Emergency Dispatch:
843-479-9999

If you believe you are in immediate danger or a crime is actively occurring, call 911.

I also want everyone to understand that scams are not limited to telephone calls. Fraudulent activity can occur through text messages, emails, social media, dating applications, websites, online marketplaces, fake investment opportunities, employment offers, lottery and sweepstakes notifications, romance scams, technology-support scams, banking scams, family-emergency scams, and impersonation of law enforcement or government officials.

If someone you do not know is unexpectedly asking you for money, financial information, passwords, verification codes, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or access to your accounts, treat that request with extreme caution.

Remember:

If it sounds too good to be true, stop and verify it.

If someone is demanding immediate payment, stop and verify it.

If someone is threatening you with arrest unless you send money, stop and verify it.

If someone tells you to keep the transaction secret, stop and verify it.

If someone claims to be a police officer and demands payment to resolve a criminal matter, it is a scam.

I will also say this personally: it is troubling to know that someone would use my name, my position, or the trust associated with the Bennettsville Police Department to take advantage of innocent citizens.

We work hard every day to earn and maintain the trust of the people we serve, and I do not take that responsibility lightly. Our citizens should never be afraid to contact their police department because someone has threatened them, pressured them, or told them they are not allowed to speak with law enforcement. If you are unsure whether something is legitimate, contact us and let us help you verify it.

We would much rather spend a few minutes helping someone determine whether a situation is legitimate than see one of our citizens become a victim. If you have already sent money or provided personal or financial information to a suspected scammer, do not be embarrassed and do not assume there is nothing that can be done. Contact your financial institution immediately, preserve messages, telephone numbers, emails, receipts, transaction information, screenshots, and other evidence, and report the incident to law enforcement and the appropriate financial institution or service involved.

Scammers depend on people being embarrassed or afraid to report what happened. There is no shame in being targeted by a scam. The shame belongs to the person who intentionally attempts to deceive and steal from another person.

Please take care of one another.

Talk to your parents, grandparents, children, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and anyone who may be particularly vulnerable to financial exploitation. A simple conversation today could prevent someone from losing their hard-earned money tomorrow.

Stay alert. Slow down. Verify before you pay.

And remember, when in doubt, contact us directly.

We are here to serve and protect you.

Chief Sammy Crosland
Bennettsville Police Department

09/09/2026

A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF SAMMY CROSLAND

I want to take a moment to speak directly to the people of Bennettsville about a scam that has been brought to our attention. An individual is using my name and falsely representing himself as me in an attempt to convince citizens to send money.

I want to be very clear: neither I nor any member of the Bennettsville Police Department will ever demand money from you in exchange for dropping criminal charges, avoiding arrest, resolving a warrant, or handling any other criminal matter.

If someone contacts you claiming to be me, one of our officers, or a representative of this department and asks you to send money, purchase gift cards, transfer funds, or make any type of payment, please do not do it. Hang up and contact us directly so the information can be verified.

Bennettsville Police Department Office:
843-479-3620

Non-Emergency Dispatch:
843-479-9999

Scammers often rely on fear, pressure, and urgency. They want people to react quickly before they have time to stop, think, and ask questions. Please do not allow anyone to pressure or intimidate you into giving away your hard-earned money.

I will also say this personally: it is troubling to know that someone would use my name, or the trust associated with this department, to take advantage of people in our community. We work hard every day to earn and maintain that trust, and I do not take it lightly.

If something does not seem right, call us. We would much rather spend a few minutes helping someone verify a situation than see one of our citizens become a victim.

Please share this information with your family, friends, neighbors, and especially anyone who may be more vulnerable to this type of scam.

Take care of one another, stay alert, and when in doubt, contact us directly.

Chief Sammy Crosland
Bennettsville Police Department

08/31/2026

OVERDOSE AWARENESS & PREVENTION
Education Can Save a Life. Awareness Can Prevent a Tragedy.

The Bennettsville Police Department recognizes Overdose Awareness Day and joins communities across the nation in bringing attention to the devastating impact of drug overdoses on individuals, families, and our communities.

An overdose can happen to anyone. It does not discriminate based on age, background, or circumstance. Understanding the warning signs and knowing how to respond can make the difference between life and death.

⚠️ Know the Warning Signs of an Overdose:
• Person is unconscious or cannot be awakened
• Slow, weak, or stopped breathing
• Gurgling, choking, or unusual breathing sounds
• Blue, gray, or pale lips or fingertips
• Very small or “pinpoint” pupils
• Limp body or extreme weakness

🚨 If you suspect an overdose:
CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.
Stay with the person and provide the dispatcher with as much information as possible. If naloxone (Narcan) is available, administer it according to its instructions. Naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose and give emergency responders valuable time to arrive.

Never assume someone will “sleep it off.” An overdose is a medical emergency.

PREVENTION STARTS WITH AWARENESS

Talk openly with your family, friends, children, and those you care about. Know the dangers associated with illicit and misused prescription drugs. Secure medications properly, never take medication prescribed for someone else, and properly dispose of unused medications.

Most importantly, do not be afraid to call for help. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

The Bennettsville Police Department is committed to protecting our community not only through enforcement, but through education, prevention, outreach, and partnerships that help save lives. One conversation can make a difference. One call can save a life. One life is worth saving.

If you see something, say something. If someone needs help, help them get it.

08/29/2026

OFFICER DOWN

A HERO HAS FALLEN…

Today is a heartbreaking and difficult day for the law enforcement family and for everyone who wears the badge and uniform in service to their communities. Our deepest and most sincere condolences go out to the family of Officer DeLong, his wife, his two children, his extended family, and all of his friends and loved ones during this unimaginable time of loss.

We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the Columbia Police Department and every officer, dispatcher, civilian employee, and member of the department who is grieving the loss of a brother in blue. When one officer falls, we all feel the loss. The badge may have different names and different agencies, but the commitment is the same to stand between danger and those we are sworn to protect.

Officer DeLong made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his community. His wife and two children now face a journey that no family should ever have to endure. They will need the love, prayers, strength, and support of not only their community, but of the entire law enforcement family and our nation. During this difficult time, let us surround his family with compassion and let them know they are not alone. May God provide them with strength, comfort, peace, and healing in the days ahead.

Please keep Officer DeLong, his wife and children, his family and friends, and the entire Columbia Police Department in your thoughts and prayers.

From the Bennettsville Police Department, we stand with our brothers and sisters of the Columbia Police Department. Our hearts are heavy, our prayers are lifted, and our support is with you.

Rest easy, Officer DeLong.
Your watch is over. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
We will carry the watch from here.

Rest in Peace, Brother.
May God bless and protect his family and all who continue to wear the badge.

08/13/2026

⚠️ PUBLIC SAFETY ALERT: ONLINE DATING EXTORTION SCAM

The Bennettsville Police Department has recently received reports of an online dating extortion scam targeting individuals through dating apps and social media.

The scam typically begins when someone connects with a profile that appears to belong to an adult. After inappropriate or sexual messages or images are exchanged, the person behind the account suddenly claims to be underage, or another person becomes involved and makes that claim.

The victim is then pressured to send money to keep the situation quiet or avoid supposed legal consequences.

In some cases, the scam escalates further. Someone impersonating a law enforcement officer contacts the victim and threatens criminal charges, arrest, or other legal action unless money is paid.

DO NOT PAY.

Legitimate law enforcement agencies will not demand money, gift cards, electronic payments, or any other form of payment to prevent an arrest or avoid criminal charges.

If you are targeted by this type of scam:

• Do not send money or make any payment
• Stop communicating with the individuals involved
• Save screenshots, usernames, phone numbers, messages, and other evidence
• Do not forward, repost, or distribute inappropriate images
• Do not delete communications that may be needed as evidence
• Contact your local law enforcement agency and report the incident

Scammers rely on fear, embarrassment, and urgency to pressure victims into acting before they have time to think. If someone is demanding money while threatening arrest, criminal charges, or public embarrassment, stop communicating and contact law enforcement directly.

Please share this information with family and friends to help others recognize the warning signs and avoid becoming victims.

Bennettsville Police Department
COMMITMENT • INTEGRITY • DETERMINATION